"Blank Page" | |
---|---|
Song by Christina Aguilera | |
from the album Lotus | |
Recorded | 2012 |
Length | 4:04 |
Label | RCA |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) | Chris Braide |
Licensed audio | |
"Christina Aguilera - Blank Page (Official Audio)" on YouTube |
"Blank Page" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera, taken from her seventh studio album, Lotus (2012). It was written by Aguilera, Chris Braide and Sia, with production done by Braide. Aguilera had worked with Furler on her previous two albums Bionic and Burlesque , both released in 2010. Following the release of Lotus, Aguilera revealed that Furler is one of her favorite people to work with and that she is very inspiring.
"Blank Page" is a minimalist piano-driven ballad that received frequent comparisons to Aguilera's 2002 single "Beautiful". It garnered strong critical acclaim from music critics, who praised its simplistic arrangement as well as Aguilera's raw and strong vocal performance on the song. Following the release of Lotus, it peaked at number 53 on the South Korea international singles chart. Aguilera performed the song live for the first time at the 39th People's Choice Awards, where she was awarded with the People's Voice Award.
Following the release of her sixth studio to an album, Bionic (2010), [2] Aguilera filed for divorce from her husband Jordan Bratman, starred in the film Burlesque , and recorded the accompanying soundtrack. [3] She then became a coach on NBC's singing competition show The Voice [3] and appeared as a featured artist on Maroon 5's single "Moves Like Jagger" (2011), which spent four weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. [4] Following these events, Aguilera announced that had plans to begin production of her seventh album, stating that she wanted high quality and "personal" songs for the record. [4] Regarding the creative direction, she revealed that the album would be a "culmination of everything I've experienced up until this point ... I've been through a lot since the release of my last album, being on ('The Voice'), having had a divorce ... This is all sort of a free rebirth for me." [5] She further said "I'm embracing many different things, but it's all feel-good, super-expressive [and] super-vulnerable." [5] Aguilera continued to say that the album would be about "self–expression and freedom" because of the personal struggles she had overcome during the last couple of years. [6] Speaking about her new material during an interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2012, Aguilera said that the recording process for Lotus was taking a while because "I don't like to just get songs from producers. I like them to come from a personal place ... I'm very excited. It's fun, exciting, introspective, it's going to be great". [7] "Blank Page" was written by Aguilera, Sia and Chris Braide, the latter of whom also produced the song. Aguilera's vocals were recorded by Oscar Ramirez at The Red Lips Room in Beverly Hills in California. Braide provided the programming, string arrangement, piano and keyboards. [8] Furler herself recorded a demo version of the song before Aguilera opted it for Lotus. [9]
Lotus is the third album in which Aguilera and Furler have collaborated on material together for. They first worked together on Aguilera's sixth studio album, Bionic (2010), on the songs "You Lost Me" and "I Am", along with Samuel Dixon. [10] "You Lost Me" was released as the final single from Bionic, and peaked at number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart and number 28 on the Adult Contemporary. [11] [12] Later that year, they reunited to create a song to be included on the Burlesque soundtrack, which is called "Bound to You". [13] It was nominated in the category of Award for Best Original Song at the 68th Golden Globe Awards in January 2011. [14] In an interview with VEVO, Aguilera explained the collaborative process between Furler and herself, and why she likes to work with her: Sia and I always done amazing collaborations, she worked with me on the movie soundtrack 'Burlesque,' which we got a Golden Globe nomination for, we also did a lot of work on my 'Bionic' record, that was so sentimental, intimate and vulnerable feeling, and that's what I love about working with her". [14] Aguilera was interviewed by Billboard when she attended the Billboard Film & TV Music Conference. She revealed that she views "Blank Page" as a more "vulnerable" version of her 2002 song, "Beautiful". [1] When she was asked by the interviewer who her favorite people were to collaborate with, she responded by solely mentioning Furler and explained what led to her to enjoy working with her:
Sia is one of them. She comes in, singer-songwriter, she just writes the most beautiful amazing ballads. Now she is making a name for herself on a more broad commercial scale with a lot of more dance-driven stuff, and she is just an incredible singer. She came in and she just writes such serious songs, I was like 'Oh she is gunna[ sic ] be such a serious person, and I'm nervous to meet her, and I just want her to get me and understand that I'm not a cheesy pop star'. She comes in and she was all nervous, and she is the most bubbliest person in the world, but once she starts singing and getting into her thing, you're just sucked into this world of 'wow' and it's inspiring to be around people with such creative energy. I love that, that's the best experience. [1]
"Blank Page" is a simplistic piano arranged ballad, [17] which lasts for a duration of 4:04 (four minutes and four seconds). [18] It was written in the key of B flat major with a tempo of 115 beats per minute. Her vocal range spans from F3 to G5. Lyrically, the song is about how Aguilera wishes to "wipe the slate clean" with a former lover and "reconcile an old romance". [19] She knows that she has wronged him, but is asking to be given a second chance. [16] Andrew Hampp for Billboard noted that this sentiment is revealed by Aguilera in the lyrics "If I could do undo that I hurt you/ I would do anything for us to make it through". [19] The song begins with the chords of a piano as Aguilera sings "I know there's hurt/ I know there's pain/ But people change/ Lord, knows I've been no saint/ In my own way/ Regret choices I've made/ How I do I say I'm sorry?/ How do I say I'm sorry?." [20] On the chorus, the lyrics are hopeful that she can right any wrongs she may have committed: "Draw me a smile, and save me tonight/ I'll be your blank page waiting for you to bring me to life/ Paint me a heart, let me be your art/ I am a blank page waiting for life to start/ Let our hearts start and beat as one together/ Let our hearts start and beat as one forever". [20] The arrangement of the minimalist piano composition is "fiery" yet "spare". [16] [17] [19] Aside from garnering innumerable comparisons to Aguilera's own song "Beautiful", [15] [16] the composition of "Blank Page" was subject to critique by Jim Farber writing for New York Daily News . He criticised the song for replicating the structure and lyrical content of "Someone Like You", a song performed by English singer-songwriter Adele:
Only two of the disc's 11 tracks attempt a genuine expression of vulnerability. Just one, 'Blank Page,' finds her looking inside and taking some blame. It's a pretty song, if one that blatantly rides Adele's coattails. Not only does 'Page' employ the same piano/voice arrangement as that star's 'Someone Like You,' Aguilera apes the precise length of Adele's notes. [21]
"Blank Page" garnered strong critical acclaim from music critics, many of whom praised its simplicity. Writing on behalf of 4Music, Chris Younie wrote that although "Blank Page" is followed by "Sing for Me", another ballad, the former is "utterly brilliant" and is "ten times better" than the latter. He continued to describe "Blank Page" as being "elegant and confessional". He praised her raw vocal performance and thought that should it be released as a single, it would have no problem matching the success of "Beautiful". [16] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic complimented the simplicity of the song, writing that Aguilera "seizes the spotlight" and is accompanied by a "spare" piano arrangement. [17] PopCrush critic Michael Gallucci described the song as a "showstopper" and compared it to "Beautiful" due to its minimalist structure. He further that it is a "classic Aguilera performance" as she employs vocal acrobatics. [15] Writing for Billboard, Andrew Hampp thought that "Blank Page" is more likely to reach a wider audience rather than the songs Aguilera wrote with Furler on Bionic ("You Lost Me" and "I Am", which he described as "underrated"), because of how both of their celebrity profiles have been raised since Bionic's release in 2010. [19] Mesfin Fekadu for The Huffington Post concurred with Hampp in the respect that she also thought that "Blank Page" was reminiscent of the songs co-written by Furler on Bionic, which she also described "that album's highlight". [22]
Jon Caramanica of The New York Times thought that "Blank Page", along with "Sing for Me", depicted "flashes of the old Aguilera" and that her "voice veers volcanic" on the songs as she raise the key as the songs progress. [23] Annie Zaleski of The A.V. Club praised 'Blank Page' and 'Sing for Me', writing that "they are minimal piano ballads on which Aguilera discusses working through regret and reclaiming her sense of self, respectively. The spare music lets her still-powerful voice dominate, and her impassioned delivery conveys how meaningful these songs are to her." [24] Sarah Godfrey of The Washington Post commented that the song "is about hackneyed metaphors and big notes — just the sort of combination that will appeal to fans of Aguilera's signature song 'Beautiful'". [25] Idolator critic Mike Wass complimented Aguilera's ability to "tone it down" on the song, but he was surprised at the level of simplicity considering Furler's "alternative leanings". He did, however, describe it as the album's most straightforward ballad and as a song which could have been written in 1972, "with its yearning lyrics and sparse production". [26] That Grape Juice praised the song and noted: "Rousing, resonant, and lyrically astute, this has etched itself onto the list of Xtina’s most moving musical moments." [27]
According to PopDust editor Jason Scott, the song features some of "the most accomplished vocal nuances of her [Aguilera's] career. At times, she tears mountains apart, and in other moments, she weaves a brittled and silky web." Scott ranked "Blank Page" on the list of Aguilera's ten best songs. [28]
Aguilera performed "Blank Page" for the first time live at the 39th People's Choice Awards on January 9, 2013. [29] She was surrounded by white candles, and she wore a white blaze with black leggings. [29] According to reports published by Us Weekly , Aguilera was very emotional prior to her performance, and that the audience was in tears during her rehearsals of the song. [30] Lauren Moraski of CBS News called it a "heart-wrenching performance." [31] Amy Sciarretto for PopCrush wrote that it was a "simple and unfettered" performance that allowed her to "show off" her vocals. She continued to write that although she occasionally sounded strained, she sounded better than most singers on their good day. [29] After her performance, she was presented with the People's Voice Award, where she also gave an acceptance speech. [29]
On May 28, 2016, Aguilera's performance in front of a crowd of 250,000 people marked the closing of the Moroccan music festival Mawazine. Among the twenty songs performed by her was the ballad "Blank Page", preceded by a snippet of "I Am" from the album Bionic. [32] [33] [34] In July 2017, the singer performed "Blank Page" at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee. [35] [36]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Lotus, RCA Records. [8]
Following the release of Lotus, "Blank Page" debuted on the South Korea International Singles Chart at number 53 during the week of November 11 to 17, 2012, with digital download sales of 4,299. [37]
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
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South Korea (International Singles) (Gaon) [37] | 53 |
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler is an Australian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Adelaide, she started her career as a singer in the acid jazz band Crisp in the mid-1990s. When Crisp disbanded in 1997, she released her debut studio album, OnlySee, in Australia. Sia moved to London and provided vocals for the British duo Zero 7. She released her second studio album, Healing Is Difficult, in 2001 and her third, Colour the Small One, in 2004.
"The Voice Within" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her fourth studio album, Stripped (2002). The song was written by Aguilera and Glen Ballard, with production handled by Ballard. It is a piano-driven ballad that talks about trusting oneself and one's instincts. "The Voice Within" was released as the fifth and final single from Stripped on October 27, 2003, by RCA Records.
American singer Christina Aguilera has released nine studio albums, four extended plays (EPs), four compilation albums, one soundtrack album, 54 singles, and 17 promotional singles. After releasing the duet "All I Wanna Do" with Keizo Nakanishi in 1997 and later gaining recognition for her solo musical debut with "Reflection", the theme song for the Disney animated film Mulan (1998), Aguilera signed a multi-album contract with RCA Records in 1998.
Christopher Braide is an English songwriter, record producer and singer, based in Malibu, Los Angeles.
Bionic is the sixth studio album by American singer Christina Aguilera. It was released on June 4, 2010, by RCA Records. Inspired by Aguilera's taste for electronic music, Bionic is characterized as an electropop, futurepop and R&B record. The first half consists of electronic songs incorporating synthesizers and electronic beats, while the second half displays a balladic production. The album's main themes include sex and feminism.
"Bionic" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera, taken from her sixth studio album of the same name (2010). The song was written by Aguilera, Kalenna Harper, John Hill and Switch, while production was done by the latter two. "Bionic" is an electronic number and has garnered comparisons to works by artists including Santigold and Janet Jackson.
"Not Myself Tonight" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera for her sixth studio album Bionic (2010). It was released by RCA Records as the lead single from the album on April 2, 2010. Produced by Jamal Jones a.k.a. Polow da Don and co-written in collaboration with Greg Curtis, Ester Dean and Jason Perry, "Not Myself Tonight" is an electropop, electro-R&B and dance-pop song, which explores Aguilera's adoption of different personas on the dance floor.
"Woohoo" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Nicki Minaj. The song was written by Aguilera, Onika Maraj, Claude Kelly, Ester Dean and Jamal "Polow da Don" Jones, and produced by Polow da Don, for Aguilera's sixth studio album, Bionic (2010). "Woohoo" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary crossover airplay as the album's second radio single on May 25, 2010. The song, which samples the 1972 song "Add már uram az esőt" by Hungarian singer Kati Kovács, is about oral sex.
"You Lost Me" is a song by American recording artist Christina Aguilera from her sixth studio album Bionic (2010). It was written by Aguilera, Sia, and producer Samuel Dixon. "You Lost Me" was released on June 25, 2010 by RCA Records as the third single from Bionic. The track is a down-tempo ballad that talks about an unfaithful man, who has left Aguilera's world "infected".
Burlesque: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the film of the same name, released by Screen Gems, Inc and RCA Records on November 19, 2010. The soundtrack consists of ten songs sung by the film's stars, American singers Christina Aguilera and Cher; Aguilera sang eight of the tracks, while Cher performed the remaining two. The album is inspired by jazz music style, in style with Aguilera's fifth studio album Back to Basics (2006), but contrasting to her then-recent release Bionic (2010), which was recorded concurrently with Burlesque. Burlesque served as Cher's first album since the release of Living Proof nine years earlier.
"Express" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for the accompanying soundtrack album to her film Burlesque (2010). Written by Aguilera, C. "Tricky" Stewart and Claude Kelly and was produced by Stewart, "Express" is an uptempo electropop number. The track premiered on November 3, 2010 on On Air with Ryan Seacrest to promote the soundtrack. It was also released to Italian radio as a single on November 12, 2010, and to Australian radio on December 6.
"Your Body" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her seventh studio album, Lotus (2012). It was written by Savan Kotecha, Max Martin, Shellback and Tiffany Amber, while its production was done by Martin and Shellback. RCA Records premiered the song on September 14, 2012, on On Air with Ryan Seacrest, and later sent it to US contemporary hit and rhythmic radio stations two days later as the lead single from Lotus. "Your Body" is an R&B, electro, EDM and pop number with elements from dubstep and Eurodance. Its lyrics express Aguilera's desire to have sex with an anonymous partner.
Lotus is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera. RCA Records released the album on November 9, 2012. The album is Aguilera’s first effort following her divorce from Jordan Bratman. Its music incorporates pop styles with elements of dance-pop and rock in the form of upbeat songs and piano-driven ballads. Aguilera described the album as a "rebirth", drawing inspiration from events in her life, her appearance on The Voice, and her divorce. The album was recorded at Aguilera's home studio. As executive producer, she collaborated with a wide range of producers, including new partners Alex da Kid, Max Martin, Lucas Secon and Tracklacers.
"Army of Me" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera for her seventh studio album, Lotus (2012). It was co-written by Aguilera with Jamie Hartman, David Glass and Phil Bentley, with production done by Hartman and Tracklacers. Described by Aguilera as part two to her 2003 single "Fighter", she decided to record the song so that her newer, younger fans would have an empowering song to listen in case they were unfamiliar with her previous work. The song combines dance-pop and Eurodance genres; its instrumentation incorporates drum beats and rock guitars. "Army of Me" garnered mixed reviews from music critics. Many praised Aguilera's strong delivery of the song's message and branded it a potential single, while others criticized it for being too similar to "Fighter". Upon the release of Lotus, the song debuted on the South Korea international singles chart at number 103 with digital download sales of 2,689. Aguilera has performed the song at the 40th American Music Awards in the United States.
"Make the World Move" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for her seventh studio album, Lotus (2012). It features guest vocals from Cee Lo Green. The song was written by Alexander Grant, Mike Del Rio, Candice Pillay, Jayson DeZuzio, Dwayne Abernathy and Armando Trovajoli. Musically, the track is an up–tempo inspirational song, which combines dance, R&B and soul genres. Lyrically, it is a positive attitude song which features horns and synthesizers as part of its instrumentation.
"Let There Be Love" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for her seventh studio album, Lotus (2012). It was written and produced by Max Martin and Shellback, with additional writing from Bonnie McKee, Oliver Goldstein, Oscar Holter and Jakke Erixson. Having originally collaborated with other producers in her earlier works, Aguilera stated that the "full circle" her career had taken became the right time to work with Martin. The song combines dance-pop, EDM and pop music genres, and is influenced by electronica and trance. Its instrumentation incorporates synths, drums and electronics.
"Just a Fool" is a duet recorded by American singer songwriters Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton for Aguilera's seventh studio album, Lotus (2012). The track was written by Claude Kelly, Wayne Hector, and its producer Steve Robson. "Just a Fool" was sent to contemporary hit and hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States by RCA Records as the second and final single from the album on December 4, 2012. The song is a country pop ballad which discusses the pain of a break-up.
"We Remain" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera, taken from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, the soundtrack to the 2013 American science-fiction adventure film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. It was released as the third single from the soundtrack on October 1, 2013, following Coldplay's "Atlas" and Sia's "Elastic Heart". Composed by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle and Mikky Ekko, "We Remain" is an arena pop power ballad about perseverance. Contemporary music critics lauded the song for its sound and picked it as one of the highlights from the soundtrack. The single appeared on a few national record charts including Belgium, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
"Telepathy" is a song by American singer and songwriter Christina Aguilera featuring American musician Nile Rodgers, recorded for the 2016 Netflix musical drama series The Get Down and included on the accompanying soundtrack of the same name. It was co-written by Sia in collaboration with Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen. The track was produced by Elliott Wheeler and The Get Down director, Baz Luhrmann. While it was available to download from the soundtrack upon its release, it was promoted in Italy to contemporary hit radio as a single on August 23, 2016. Various remixes were also released throughout the following month.
"Start a War" is an unreleased song recorded by American singer Gwen Stefani. Originally intended for her third studio album, the ballad was written by Stefani and Sia and produced by Arnthor Birgisson. Stefani said she was grateful for Sia's help with the composition. In the end, the song did not make the final cut of This Is What the Truth Feels Like, Stefani's third studio album released in 2016. The song was intended to serve as a bonus track on a CD maxi single for her 2014 single "Baby Don't Lie", although the distribution was scrapped by Interscope and Mad Love Records. After it was registered with a UPC, Universal Music Group announced that it would be issued as a standalone digital download on November 9, 2015, but these plans were also cancelled.
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